Single leaf spring suspension for automobiles



Oct. 28,1952 K. E. LYMAN 2,615,710

SINGLE LEAF SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 14, 1947 IlG-I INVEN TOR. KENNETH E. LYMAN BY I2,

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1952 i UNITE'D' STATE i UToMo r ns Kenneth E.'Lyman, Lake Forest, 111., assignor to TuckerCorpor-ation, Chicago, 111., a corporation 7 of Delaware Application June 14, 1947, Serial No. 754,743

The-present invention has to do with the suspension of'a chassis from the wheels 'of a motor vehicle, and is concerned primarily 'with a novel -sp'ring' arrangement for achieving this end.

1 one endto the. bearing: block of the. wheehand flat. the other end to the chassis. practice to either associate torsionsprings with g the parallelogram suspension, .01? employ spring It has been the arms for the horizontal memberswhich define the parallelogram. The present invention is con- 2 Claims. (01. 267 -41) greater distance apart'at the connections to the chassis, than at the connections tothewhe el.

cerned primarily with a novel parallelogram suspension of this general type.

The invention has in view as its ioremost objective, the provision, in anautomobile including a chassis and a wheel, ofa parallelogram suspension comprising spaced horizontal arms, each of which consists of a pair of leaf springs which are anchored at one end to the'bea'ring block of the wheel, and which are spaced apart at their other ends and anchored to'th e vehicle chassis.

With a construction designed in accordance with the above-noted objective, it is evident that the actual mass of the structural elements of the parallelogram suspension is held down t a. minimum, At the same time, all the advantages of ahorizontal arm of wide expanse are obtained by anchorin the inner ends of the spring arms to thechassis at points spaced horizontally 'apart,

and goodlstability is achieved. without any increase in weight. V k

A further object of the invention is to provide in a parallelogram suspension of the type indicated,a single leaf spring, arm which is weakest at its center, and gradually increases inv strength and dimensions towards eachend. Such a, structure readily lends itself to providing the Spring action which is so essential to gOOd riding qualities. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved method for supporting a vehicle chassis from the'vehicle wheels;

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in con nection with carrying out" the above-noted thoughts in a, practical "embodiment, will part become apparent and in part'ibe v hereinait er stated as the description "Of: the inventionpro 1 'The invention therefore comprises a single leaf spring parallelogram suspensionfor an auto?- mobile which comprises a parallelogramfsupport consisting of a pair'of' spaced horizontal arm assemblies, each of which includes, a pair of single leaf spring arms that are joined tpgether 'a't one end, and anchored to'the bearing block or the wheel, and spacedapart at. the other end and anchored to the vehicle chassis. 1 j,

The invention also embraces the method of supporting a chassis from vehicle wheels which liesin the connection of the wheels to thechassis by parallelogram suspension armsfhaving leaf spring'elements that are spaced apart more wide? ly at the chassis than at the connections for the wheels. p

' 1 For a fully and more complete understanding ofi'the invention reference may be had" to the following description and accompanying, draw,- ing wherein! Figure l is aview inside elevation at spar;- allelogram suspension embodying, theprincip s chassis to avehicle wheel, and

a Figure 2 1s a plan view oi the suspension shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, whereinlike reference characters denote corresponding parts, a'wheel is depicted somewhat diagrammatically,

and is represented in itsentirety by the reference character W. The wheel W includesfa bearing blockdesignated l0, which receives the r axle (not illustrated) on which the wheel 'i'o'rtates. A vehicle chassis is" designated generally C, and is. illustrated as including, a, sidepchan'nel bar lLhaving anhpper hormone image l2 a. lower flange 1:3.1' pair of brackets are depicted at B and B These bmketsar'sutstantially duplicates, andonly one of them need This method is characterized by the inclusion.

of the steps of individually connecting each wheel to the chassis by a parallelogram support and spacing the anchorage oi the supporting arms a here be described for the purposes of this specification. Each of the brackets 13 and B includes a bottom flange I4, which engages the Each bracket B also includes a vertical 7 I flange l6 which constitutes substantially a continuation of the main part of the channel bar I I.

A parallelogram suspension is referred to in its entirety by the reference character P. This suspension comprises an upper arm assembly designated U, and a horizontal arm assembly designated L. The arm assemblies U and L are substantially duplicates, each of them comprises a pair of spring arms I! and I8. It Will be noted that these arms I! and I8 are weakest at their mid-points l9 due to the narrowest construction thereat. While the arms I! and I8 are substantially uniform in thickness, they vary in width, increasing from the narrow center [9 towards the wider structure at each end.

The leaf springs l1 and I8 of the suspension arm assembly U, converge and meet on the upper face of the bearing block 10, to which they are anchored as by the headed bolts shown at 20, The ends remote from; this anchorage 20 are spaced apart as clearly shown in Figure 2, and anchored in this spaced relation to the brackets B, thatare carried on the chassis C. This is accomplished through the medium'of a pair of L-shaped connecting members 2| and 22. Each of these members 2| and 22 has a vertical flange .23, that'is anchored to the vertical flange I6 of therespective brackets B or B by the bolt and nut connection shown at 24. The connecting member 2| includes a horizontal flange 25, to which the inner end of the spring ll of the upper armassembly U is secured as by the bolt and nut shown at 26. Similarly, the connecting member 22 is formed with a horizontal flange 21, to which the inner end of the arm 18 is secured by a bolt and nut connection 28. d

The lower arm assembly L is incorporated into this structure in substantially the same manner. The outer ends of the spring arms of this memberconverge and are secured to the underface of the bearingblock as by the bolt shown at 29. The inner ends are spaced apart and securedt'o the chassis C by L-shaped connecting members shown at 30.

While the operation of the above-described mechanism is believed to be obvious, it will be noted that the arms U and L of the parallelogram suspension P, being of a resilient construction, permit the wheels W to move vertically'with respect to the chassis C. During this movement, the ,wheel W is held in a vertical position due to the spacing between the upper and lower arms. Moreover, great stability in the entire structure is obtained due to the wide spacing of the inner ends of the arms I! and 18 where they are connected to the chassis.

' If desired, tie-in devices shown at T may be employed for the purpose of joining the midpoints of the corresponding spring arms I! and I8 of upper and lower assemblies, respectively. This one device T connects the mid-points 19 of the arm I! while another device joins the midpoints I9 of the arm 18.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and s ri because various modifications of these .a parallelogram suspension for suspending said chassis from said wheel, said suspension comprising spaced brackets secured to said chassis,

an upper arm assembly consisting of a pair of straight elongated single leaf springs arranged in diverging relation with their outer ends meeting and connected rigidly to the upper face of said block and their inner ends spaced apart and connected rigidly to said brackets, and a lower arm assembly consisting of a pair of straight elongated single leaf springs arranged in diverging relation with their outer ends meeting and joined rigidly to the under face of said block and their inner ends connected rigidly to said chassis at spaced points, each of said leaf springs being of substantially uniform thickness, but of varying width and having its narrowest point at its center and gradually increasing in width towards each end away-therefrom.

2. In an automobile including a wheel, a bearing block supported by the wheel and a chassis, a parallelogram suspension for suspending said chassis from said wheel, said suspension comprising spaced brackets secured tosaid chassis, an upper arm assembly consisting of a pair of straight elongated single leaf springs arranged in diverging relation with their outer ends meeting and connected rigidly to the upper face of said block and their inner ends spaced apart and connected rigidly to said brackets, a lower arm assembly consisting of a pair of straight elongated single leaf springs arranged in diverging relation with their outer ends meeting and joined rigidly to the under face of said block and their inner ends connected rigidly to said chassis at spaced points, the springs tapering in width toward their centers to be weakest at their centers, and a pair of tie-in devices connecting the centers of the corresponding springs in said upper and lower assemblies.

, KENNETH E. LYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

